Apparatus for handling strip



Jan. 29, 1957 E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,779,550

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l J ==-E&.

CO/L STE/PPEQfi 24F Jan. 29, 1957 E. R. MUDDIMAN 2,779,550

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING STRIP Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. $4414 4. MUDfl/MA/Y United States Patent APPARATUS FORHANDLING STRIP Earl] R. Muddiman, Levittown, Pa., assignor to UnitedStates Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 6,1955, Serial No. 506,537

Claims. (Cl. 242-80) This invention relates to an improved apparatus forhandling strip material which emerges from a high speed processing lineand feeds into a succeeding lower speed line. i 1

An object of the invention is to provide an improved handling apparatuswhich both coils the full output of strip from a high speed line andalso supports coiled strip for uncoiling and feeding into a low speedline up to the capacity of the latter.

A further object is to provide an improved handling apparatus whichincludes a series of mandrels or the like adapted either to coil stripemerging from a high speed line or to support coiled strip for uncoilingand feeding into a low speed line, along with a mandrel or the like forcoiling excess strip beyond the capacity of the low speed line.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, a preferred form of which isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of a handlingapparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus with one mandrel coilingstrip from the high speed line, a second mandrel idly supporting a coilin reserve, and a third mandrel supporting a coil feeding to the lowspeed line;

Figure 3 is a schematic view with the first mandrel idle and having thecoil removed, the second feeding to the low speed line, and the thirdcoiling from the high speed line;

Figure 4 is a schematic view with the first mandrel coiling strip fromthe high speed line, the second feeding strip to the low speed line, andthe third idly supporting a coil in reserve; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view with the first mandrel idle, the secondcoiling from the high speed line, and the third feeding to the low speedline.

Figure 1 shows somewhat diagrammatically the exit end portion of a highspeed strip processing line, the entry end portion 12 of a lower speedline aligned therewith, and a handling apparatus 13 constructed inaccordance with my invention situated therebetween. By way of example,the respective lines can be an electrolytic tinning line for steelstrip, which operates at a strip speed of about 1000 feet per minute,and a shear line, which operates efiiciently at a strip speed of onlyabout 500 feet per minute.

My handling apparatus comprises a horizontal idler roller conveyor 14adapted to support strip S as it emerges from the high speed line. Aplurality of longitudinally spaced parallel power driven mandrels 15,16, and 17 are journaled beneath said conveyor. Per se the mandrels canbe of any standard or desired construction, and are shown equipped withconventional entry guide aprons 18 and belt wrappers 19. The apparatusincludes three deflectors 20, 21, and 22 pivoted in the plane of theconveyor above the respective mandrels 15, 16, and 17, A

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conventional crop shear 23 straddles the conveyor adjacent its entry endpreceding the first mandrel 15 and deflector 20. A conventionalelevating type coil stripper 24 is located beneath the first mandrel 15.Hold-down rolls 25 and 26 are journaled below and on the exit side ofthe second and third mandrels 16 and 17 respectively. A removablehorizontal idler roller conveyor 27 is located beneath the lattermandrels and the hold-down rolls. Preferably this latter conveyor has aseparately removable section 28 under the second mandrel 16. Strippersor feeding carriages similar to 24 can be installed under either or boththe second and third mandrels 16 and 17 in place of the conveyor 27 whendesired. A pair of power driven pinch rolls 29 are journaled adjacentthe exit end of the conveyor 27.

In operation, a continuous strip S emerges from the high speed line 10and is supported on the conveyor 14. The strip can pass selectivelybeneath any one of the deflectors 20, 21, or 22 to the correspondingmandrel 15, 16, or 17, which acts as a coiler therefor. The particulardeflector under which the strip travels is of course raised, while anydeflectors over which it travels are lowered. Either the second or thirdmandrel 16 or 17 selectively can be used simultaneously as an uncoilerfor feeding coiled strip S1 to the low speed line 12. The latter strippasses under the hold-down roll 25 or 26, over the conveyor 27 and ismotivated by the pinch rolls 29. Commonly it hangs in a short loop Lbetween the handling apparatus and the line 12. Whenever a coil iscompletely wound on one of the mandrels, the crop shear 23 is operatedto sever the strip so that a new coil can be started on another mandrel.A completed coil can remain idly on either mandrel 16 or 17 in reservefor subsequent uncoiling and feeding to the line 12. The stripper 24 isoperated to remove completed coils from the mandrel 15, since such coilsare in excess of the capacity of the line 12.

Figures 2 to 5 illustrate successive steps in my handling method. InFigure 2 coils previously have been wound on the second and thirdmandrels 16 and 17, while strip S from the line 10 currently is coilingon the first mandrel 15. The second mandrel 16 is holding its coil inreserve, while the third mandrel 17 is functioning as an uncoiler andfeeding strip S1 into the line 12. Figure 3 shows the next step in whichstrip S from the line 10 is coiling on the third mandrel 17, theprevious coil thereon having been fully processed in the low speed line.The second mandrel 16 is functioning as an uncoiler and feeding strip S1to the line 12. The coil on the first mandrel 15 has been completed andremoved for further processing elsewhere. Figure 4 shows the next stepin which strip S from the line 10 again is coiling on the first mandrel15. The third mandrel 17 is holding its coil in reserve, while thesecond mandrel still functions as an uncoiler as in Figure 3. Figure 5shows the remaining step in which strip from the line 10 is coiling onthe second mandrel 16. The third mandrel 17 again is functioning as anuncoiler, while the coil on the first mandrel has been removed.

The apparatus is highly flexible in its operation. In the event the twolines are operating at the same speed, and continuous operation isdesired, the strip can pass over the upper conveyor 14 directly into thesecond line without being coiled. In the event it is not desired tooperate the second line, the conveyor section 28 can be removed and astripper similar to 24 substituted. Coils then can be wound alternatelyon the first two mandrels 15 and 16 and removed when finished. In theevent it is not desired to operate the first line, conveyor 27 and itssection 28 can be removed and two feeding carriages substituted. Coilscan be fed alternately from the mandrels 16 and 17 to the second line.With this last set up the two lines also can be operated independently.While the example refers to a line speed ratio of two to one, otherratios are readily accommodated through proper adiustmentin the size ofcoilwound on the/various mandrels. For higher ratios. appropriatelysmaller. coils are wound on the second and third. mandrels 16- and 1'7,while tor lower ratios appropriately smaller coils are wound on thefirst mandrel 15.

While 1 have shown. and described only a single embodiment of myinvention, it is apparent that modificaions may arise. Therefore, Idonot wish to be limited to the disclosure. set forth but only by thescope of the appended claims.

lclairn:

l. The combination, with a high, speed strip processing line and asucceeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith, of. ahandling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a conveyorand at least three. spaced parallel power drivenmandrels journaledbeneath said conveyor, any selectedrone of saidniandrels being adaptedto have strip from said highspeed line coiled thereon, either of atleast two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to servesimultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line.

2. The combii ation with a'high speed strip processing line and asucceeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith, of ahandling apparatus situated between said lines comprising a rollerconveyor, at least three spaced uarallel power driven mandrels journaledbeneath said conveyor, any selected oneof said mandrels being adapted tohave strip from said high speed line coiled thereon, either of at leasttwo of said mandrels being selectively adapted to serve simultaneouslyas an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line, and meansbeneath said latter two mandrels for. guiding the strip to said lowspeed line.

3. The combination, with a high speedv strip processing line and asucceeding low speed strip processing line aligned therewith,v of. a.handling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a rollerconveyor, a crop shear adjacent the entry end of said conveyor, at leastthree spaced parallel power driven mandrels journaled beneath saidconveyor following said shear, any selected one of said mandrels beingadapted to have strip from said high speed line coiled thereon, eitherof the last two of said mandrels being selectively adapted to "servesimultaneously as an uncoiler for feeding strip to said low speed line,hold-down rolisbelow and' on theexit side or said last two mandrelsrespectively, and a roller conveyor beneath said hold-down rolls.

4. The combination, with a high speed strip processing line and asucceeding low speed strip processing line aligned. therewith, of ahandling apparatus situated between said lines and comprising a rollerconveyor, a crop shear adjacent the entry end of said conveyor, threeparallel power driven mandrels journaled' beneath r id conveyorfollowing said shear, any selected-one of said mandrelsbeing adapted tohave strip from said'high speed line coiled thereon, either of the lasttwo of said mandrels being selectively adapted to serve simultaneouslyas anuncoiler' for feeding strip to said low speed line, a coilstripperbelow the first of said mandrels, hold-down rolls-below and onthe exit side of said last two mandrels respectively, and a removableroller conveyor beneath said hold-down rolls and said last two mandrels;

5. A combination as defined iuclaim 4 in which said last named conveyorhas a separately removable section located under the second mandrel.

References @ited in the '-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,lll,054 Paul Mar. 15, 1938 2,200,656 Schefe May 14, 1940 2,389,443Lyle Nov. 20, 1945

